Page 17 of Midnight Revelations

“You don’t get to die on me,” I replied. “You said you loved me and filled my head with happily ever afters. That’s what I want, too.”

His head lowered until his forehead touched mine. “I will do everything in my power to ensure you survive, Angel. I am born of the devil and was tainted by evil before I was born. Your love is the only redemption I have and I crave you more than I dare.”

“Then promise me that no matter what, you will always choose us.”

“I promise, but you need to remember we are about to walk onto a chessboard and every move is scrutinised. You might not like the man I become to give you your happy ending.”

I encircled my arms around him and pulled him down until our bodies were fully aligned. “If I falter, remember that I’ve never done relationships before.”

His gaze bored into mine. “When it’s darkest and you think all hope is lost, remember that you alone are the only person in this world I will die for because you looked inside this hopeless sinner and saved me.”

“I wouldn’t want you to die for me, Ash. I want you to destroy everything that stands in our way until we can be together again.”

A dark smile touched his lips. “Just remember, Angel, that this is a game of darkness and deceit. Don’t trust anyone and keep your head down. I will find you at the end of this and claim you.”

A cold shiver of fear traced down my spine at the thought of what was about to befall us.

***

Chapter Seven

Ash

The chill in the room cooled my skin and my eyes adapted to the darkness. I was barely back in England when Dad summoned me, his tone on the phone saying that there was no negotiation available for the meeting.

The Blackwood estate had never been home, it had been a place filled with misery and pain, somewhere that he could torment me with the excuse that he was honing me into his heir. I swirled the amber liquid in the glass and stared at it. My three brothers were here which meant that Dad was planning something sinister and had already decided who was doing what. Rebellion was rarely fruitful.

“One of my sources says you’ve become very friendly with Lucas Black’s daughter,” Dad said in his low, dangerous tone. “You were at that jewellery show with her and were seen at an event in Paris talking to her.”

All my training kicked in and I suppressed every single emotion in my body because Dad was the master of dragging your feelings out and shredding them. A cold smile curved my mouth. “Lucy is like a little sister to Xavier. Don’t forget that I used to spend my summers at her home in Tuscany. The only reason Lucas Black would let me near his daughter is because he knows I have no interest in her.”

He scrutinised me, that black gaze of his watching for any flash of emotion.

I met his eyes. “Do you want me to introduce you, Dad? You know I prefer blondes.”

He sat back and lifted his own glass. “I believe you are in business with her.”

Nigel had been a busy boy, running to Dad with his nasty little tales of woe. This was a game I knew well and excelled in. “Tell Nigel from me to keep his filthy hands off my business. Diamonds are worth a lot of money and now I have a way of laundering them.” I quirked an eyebrow at him. “I don’t need to explain my actions to anyone.”

He sipped his drink and continued to stare at me. “You’re more cunning that I ever gave you credit for. Financing an up-and-coming artist is ingenious, especially someone with the connections of a Black daughter.”

I swallowed another mouthful of my drink and tried to keep the bile from rising up my throat. “Thanks.”

“You could take some inspiration from you brother,” Dad snapped to my siblings. “He fills my bank accounts, while you drain them.”

“What are we doing here today, Dad?” I asked. “I’m a busy man with a full diary.”

“I have a few issues that I need dealt with. Malcolm was a financial genius who made everyone on the Council a lot of money. There were a few side ventures that he advised the higher up members on.” He pursed his lips together as if he found the topic sour.

It was, considering that Malcolm was a filthy bastard who had his fingers in the skin trade.

“How is that my problem?” I casually asked and took another sip of my drink. “And why are the others involved?”

Normally, I was the only one required to cover up a financial faux pax. Dread unfurled deep in my stomach because I knew the sort of shit that Malcolm had been involved in.

“Michael and I acquired some assets from Malcolm,” Dad said. “I offered Oliver one of his acquisitions and was waiting for delivery.”

I fought against the urge to pin my brother to the wall and pummel him until the rage I felt passed. Instead, I took another sip of my drink. “And Aaron?”

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